Copyright is, quite literally, the right to copy a creative work. In most countries it is something granted automatically to an artist upon the creative of an artwork. These laws have existed since the 1700s as a way to help protect artists’ work and prevent unauthorised usage.

Technology and society has changed drastically since then: Computers and the internet allow creative works to be created, changed, morphed, and remixed easily and subsequently disseminated to millions of people instantly. Sites such as tumblr, giphy and YouTube promote (and profit from) this activity. However, outdated and restrictive copyright laws still exist that sit at opposite ends of this common behaviour. Artists may find themselves challenged by the law for simply sharing an image or creating a meme.

In this workshop we examine our own understanding of copyright and reflect on how it affects our creative processes. We will analyse how others before us have subverted and challenged these restrictive laws and then utilise digital tools to create our own work which subverts copyright and calls for a less restrictive culture.